NYCFC Season Discussion 2023: We Know What We Are, But Not What We May Be

[mgarbowski]

FWIW I'm mostly agnostic on the parallel narratives I posted above. First, it was just one goal that proves neither. Second, even if he keeps playing and scores a goal a game the rest of the year you're still in post hoc fallacy territory for both, and based on the Nick quote I just posted we probably won't see too much of Bakrar and Magno together. In the end I think what we know is consistent with both, but proves neither.

 

[JCMore]

FWIW I'm mostly agnostic on the parallel narratives I posted above. First, it was just one goal that proves neither. Second, even if he keeps playing and scores a goal a game the rest of the year you're still in post hoc fallacy territory for both, and based on the Nick quote I just posted we probably won't see too much of Bakrar and Magno together. In the end I think what we know is consistent with both, but proves neither.

I’m gonna go with Narrative #1 solely because it backs the confirmation bias that the coach was wrong and we here on the forum are right that Cushing doesn’t know what he’s doing. Therefore we as a collective who does not attend a single practice or know any of the players personally should be the ones making the final say for lineups and in game tactics.

 

[moogoo]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1705264865667956942

Blue City Radio backs this quote up.

Multiple replies say Magno isn't a striker. The problem is it isn't just Cushing: Lee and CFG think Magno is a striker and that's where he should develop. It could, however, be that Cushing is on his own in refusing to play dual striker. I don't know. Or they could be committed as an organization to not playing him as a winger any more to force his development as they prefer.

christian used to be a writer for HRB and i think he's on this forum too.

it baffles me that a coach/ownership would force a player into a position they want for him because he'd be more valuable if it pans out instead of allowing him to develop his very real talent to maximize his potential in whatever position that ends up being.

 

[Gotham Gator]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1705264865667956942

Blue City Radio backs this quote up.

Multiple replies say Magno isn't a striker. The problem is it isn't just Cushing: Lee and CFG think Magno is a striker and that's where he should develop. It could, however, be that Cushing is on his own in refusing to play dual striker. I don't know. Or they could be committed as an organization to not playing him as a winger any more to force his development as they prefer.

I don't know what the fuck to say about this anymore - like it's not possible for someone to play at both positions.

Even if you think that Magno is best at striker, you can still start him on the wing and then move him inside when Bakrar is subbed off. Lots of players do this. Heck, even David Villa started quite a few games for us on the wing.

It's not just that his answer is wrong about Magno's best position. It's just illogical all by itself.

 

[FootyLovin]

* checks rule book *

I can't find it. Where's the page about not being allowed to play 2 strikers?

 

[KevinJRogers]

I don't know what the fuck to say about this anymore - like it's not possible for someone to play at both positions.

Even if you think that Magno is best at striker, you can still start him on the wing and then move him inside when Bakrar is subbed off. Lots of players do this. Heck, even David Villa started quite a few games for us on the wing.

It's not just that his answer is wrong about Magno's best position. It's just illogical all by itself.

I've concluded it's stubbornness. Whether it's Nick himself or he's covering for the organization, they just don't want to admit it was a mistake to pursue the Talles Magno experiment for so long after it was clear it wasn't going to work. Especially since so many of us supporters were pointing it out at the time; they don't want it to look like (or maybe just feel like) they're caving to pressure.

It's the only explanation I can come up with which even remotely explains what's happening. And it's bad. Compounding one glaring error with another one simply because you don't want to admit you were wrong is a very, very bad way for an organization (or a leader) to go.

 

[JayH]

What’s the best result for DC RB, RB win or draw given RB game at hand?

 

[mgarbowski]

What’s the best result for DC RB, RB win or draw given RB game at hand?

They're so close it hard. RB has the harder schedule with away games at Cincinnati and Nashville, so it's I think a bit safer if RB gets 3 points. OTOH we play DC and at least have the opportunity to make them drop points.
I think the order of preference is 1 draw, 2 RB win, 3 DC win, but if you really hate seeing RB win I can't say this clearly has to be one of those times you suck it up and hope for it anyways..

 

[Kenny]

Win tomorrow and we're in 8th place

albeit having played one more game than most of the teams under us

 

[ZYanksRule]

Tonight really couldn't have gone any better for us.

Absolutely have to beat Toronto.

 

[KevinJRogers]

Tonight really couldn't have gone any better for us.

Absolutely have to beat Toronto.

GIGANTIC three points on the line tomorrow. This is the game where we find out who we really are. And not for nothing, I think we get a true read on our gaffer, too. It's the kind of game where truly great managers (or managers with the potential to be great) show their stuff.

 

[LionNYC]

Win tomorrow and we're in 8th place

albeit having played one more game than most of the teams under us

In MLS, wins is the first tiebreaker so we’d be in 9th place should we win tomorrow.

 

[Kenny]

In MLS, wins is the first tiebreaker so we’d be in 9th place should we win tomorrow.

Wins is above goal differential? OK fair enough. 9th place then.

 

[Shwafta]

The highest we can finish this season is 9th unless we beat montreal's points total. IF we tie, the highest we can get is 9th place.

 

[moogoo]

i won't get excited until those below us play their games in hand. but in any case, only thing we can do is win.

 

[mgarbowski]

This is the game where we find out who we really are.

I think that's more likely against Miami next week. Toronto is hideously bad with 10 losses in the last 11 games (somehow they beat the Union a few weeks ago). Beating Toronto is a necessity but proves little. Honestly a win today and loss next week might still leave us almost exactly where we stand now. A win today plus any result in Miami will be very big.

The highest we can finish this season is 9th unless we beat montreal's points total. IF we tie, the highest we can get is 9th place.

It's absurdly unlikely but by math we can finish 7th. Our max points is 46 and Nashville is sitting on 44. PlayoffStatus puts the odds of NYC finishing 7th at <1% but not impossible. Realistically you're right 8th is the best reasonable possibility.

PlayoffStatus also has NYC with the second best chance of making the playoffs of all the teams currently in 9th place to the bottom. They say Charlotte has a 31% likelihood of qualifying and NYC 29%. I'm not super confident that PlayoffStatus can properly account for Miami being a different team than what it was before the summer break.
Of those same teams (9th and lower) only Charlotte and Miami can guarantee making the playoffs by winning out. Charlotte and Miami play each other twice in 4 days for games 33 and 34 in October so they cannot both do so and can also potentially destroy each other. They have to make up the game that was rescheduled for Leagues Cup.
One other schedule oddity: our Game 33 against DC on 10/7 is DC United's last game of the season, two weeks before Decision Day. With 29 teams, DC is the odd team out and there's an international break the weekend before Decision Day.

 

[canchon]

I also agree that Miami will show who the team really is. Beating a hapless Toronto - we’ve already done that this season.

Going to Miami and getting any type of result which slows down Garber’s “MARCH TO THE PLAYOFFS” Messiami? Getting a result contrary to Messi League Soccer? Now that would be something.

 

[KevinJRogers]

I think that's more likely against Miami next week.

Fair enough. But I'm just thinking in terms of the results last night and what this game means in and of itself. Toronto is indeed pretty poor, but as you mentioned, they beat the Union just last month. Anything can happen in MLS. If we're a serious side, we'll put in a serious performance today.

And that's what I'm looking for: a squad with bad intentions. Possession and passing with purpose. A commitment to doing damage to the opponent at every opportunity. Some fire and determination. I want to see us play like badasses.

 

[mgarbowski]

That was nice, and necessary, and fun, and 3-0, and proves nothing. We looked like 5-0 world beaters against Toronto in Leagues Cup, then laid a stinker against RB a week later. Toronto has a -16 GD in the last 12 games, including going scoreless 8 times. Our next opponent Miami just beat them 4-0.

Miami has a tough week before hosting us. They are in Orlando tonight then they host Houston Wednesday in the USOC Final, where they will play their best until the outcome is not at issue. A shame they won the draw, because Houston is a terrible road team plus the added travel would have helped. Still, the oilmen will go all out and hopefully give the flamingos a real game. Orlando should give it their best tonight. They sit in second at 50 points but the teams in 3rd through 6th all have 49, which means the Lions need wins to get playoff home games.

The Colorado Rapids have more Away wins than NYCFC right now. Bloody hell that's embarrassing.
Beat Miami.

 

[Kenny]

the oilmen

The oilmen? Is that a thing?